'Fat shaming' doesn't encourage weight loss

11 September 2014

Discrimination against overweight and obese people does not help them to
lose weight, finds new UCL research funded by Cancer Research UK.

In a study of 2,944 UK adults over four years, those who reported
experiencing weight discrimination gained more weight than those who did not. On
average, after accounting for baseline differences, people who reported weight
discrimination gained 0.95kg whereas those who did not lost 0.71kg, a difference
of 1.66kg.

The research, published in the journal Obesity, contradicts the common perception that discrimination or
'fat shaming' might encourage weight loss. The study asked people whether they
experienced day-to-day discrimination that they attributed to their weight.
Examples of discrimination include being treated disrespectfully, receiving
poor service in shops, and being harassed.*

Because this was a population survey and not an experimental study, it
cannot conclusively confirm that the positive association observed between discrimination
and weight gain is causal. Discrimination
was assessed two years after the initial weight measurements and two years
before the final measurements, but all the analyses statistically controlled
for initial weight and other potential influences.

The data are from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, a study of
adults aged 50 or older. Of the 2,944 eligible participants in the study, 5%
reported weight discrimination. This ranged from less than 1% of those in the 'normal
weight' category to 36% of those classified as 'morbidly obese'. Men and women
reported similar levels of weight discrimination.

Our study clearly shows that weight discrimination is part of the obesity problem and not the solution

Professor Jane Wardle

"There is no justification for discriminating against people because of
their weight," says lead author Dr Sarah Jackson (UCL Epidemiology & Public
Health). "Our results show that weight discrimination does not encourage weight
loss, and suggest that it may even exacerbate weight gain.

"Previous studies have found that people who experience discrimination
report comfort eating. Stress responses to discrimination can increase
appetite, particularly for unhealthy, energy-dense food. Weight discrimination has
also been shown to make people feel less confident about taking part in
physical activity, so they tend to avoid it."

Senior author Professor Jane Wardle, director of the Cancer Research UK
Health Behaviour Centre at UCL, says: "Our study clearly shows that weight
discrimination is part of the obesity problem and not the solution. Weight bias
has been documented not only among the general public but also among health
professionals; and many obese patients report being treated disrespectfully by
doctors because of their weight. Everyone, including doctors, should stop
blaming and shaming people for their weight and offer support, and where
appropriate, treatment."